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Bye-Bye, Bling: A Recessionary Note to Rappers Everywhere

Yo, my
hip-hop brothers, some words of wisdom: These are hard times. Don't know if you
heard, but we're in a recession. People are losing their homes. Folks'
retirement funds are tanking. People are pawning their jewelry for gas
money.Two of the biggest songs of the year have bee Macklemore & Ryan
Lewis's "Thrift Shop" and Lorde's "Royals," both odes to a
simpler, thriftier lifestyle. It's time to reel in the bling.

The days
of '90s excess are over and out. All the gold ropes and gold teeth have got to
go. You need to trade them in for cash and then hold on to it. Stuff it in
those high-tops until the banks are safe again. No more shopping sprees. No
more Hummers. No more Cristal. Back to basics, folks. You are not immune. Your
record label could go belly-up like Lehman Brothers did, and you may find
yourself standing behind Joe the Plumber at the check-cashing joint.

Yes, you've
all come a long way from the days of Mr. T-level bling, but you've got many
more miles to go. Pull off the gold chains and bring on the humility. Get
yourself a Prius. Carpool to the next "VH1 Rap Honors" show. Recycle
those kicks instead of tossing them after the first scuff mark. Yes we can, my
hip-hop brothers. Yes we can.

Here are
five of the worst offenders. I'm calling these folks out so they can step up
and lead the way for the rest of the hip-hop nation. Do the right thing. - By Shawn Amos